Mirza Muhammad Bagher Sharif Tabatabaei (; 1823–1901) was an Iranian

Islamic scholar In Islam, the ''ulama'' ( ; also spelled ''ulema''; ; singular ; feminine singular , plural ) are scholars of Islamic doctrine and law. They are considered the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam. "Ulama ...

. He studied Islamic disciplines under the guidance of his father and scholars such as ‘Allama Bahr al-‘Ulum, Shaykh Ja’far Kashif al-Ghita’, Agha Muhammad Bagher Hizarjaribi, and Mir ‘Abd al-Baghi Isfahani in

Karbala Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...

Biography

Mirza Muhammad Baqir was born in the village Qehi near

Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...

. His father, Mulla Muhammad Jafar was an admirer of Shaykh Ahmad Ahsaei Ala Maqami. After learning the basics from his father, Baqir travelled to

to continue his education, residing at the

Nimavar School Nimavar school () is a historical school in Isfahan, Iran. It's located in Nimavar Bazaar A bazaar or souk is a marketplace consisting of multiple small Market stall, stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Asia, N ...

where he studied different sciences for several years. After the Wahhabi attack on Karbala in 1802, he moved to Iran and enrolled at the Islamic seminary of

, initially staying with his uncle, Aqa Muhammad ‘Ali Kirmanshahi. He spent 13 years teaching and writing in Isfahan, during which he authored his most well-known work, Mafatih al-usul. In 1845, Baqir traveled to

Yazd Yazd (; ) is a city in the Central District of Yazd County, Yazd province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. At the 2016 census, its population was 529,673. Since 2017, the historical city of Yazd is rec ...

in the hope of meeting Kermani, who was passing through on his way to

Mashhad Mashhad ( ; ), historically also known as Mashad, Meshhed, or Meshed in English, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. ...

. Due to changes in travel plans, Baqir instead accompanied him back to

Kerman Kerman (; ) is a city in the Central District (Kerman County), Central District of Kerman County, Kerman province, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. History Kerman was founded as a def ...

, where he continued his theological studies at the Ibrahimieh School. Kermani assigned Baqir to Naein to preach. There, Baqir spent several years involved in religious teaching and outreach among followers of

Shaykhism Shaykhism () is a term used by Shia Muslims for the followers of Shaykh Ahmad in early 19th-century Qajar Iran. While grounded in traditional Twelver Shiʻi doctrine, Shaykhism diverged from the Usuli school in its interpretation of key ideas s ...

in Naein, Anarak, Jandaq, Biabanak, and nearby areas. When he finished his stay in Nairn, he returned to

, where he remained until Kermani left for a pilgrimage to

in 1866. When they arrived in Hamedan, they found a number of Sheikhieh adherents, but also a lack of leaders due to the demise of Mullah Abdulsamad Hamedani. Kermani appointed Baqir as a leader, and continued his pilgrimage to Karbala. Baqir remained in

Hamedan Hamadan ( ; , ) is a mountainous city in western Iran. It is located in the Central District of Hamadan County in Hamadan province, serving as the capital of the province, county, and district. As of the 2016 Iranian census, it had a po ...

for 32 years, engaging in religious instruction and community leadership. He continued this role following Kermani's death. Due to unrest in

in 1897, Baqir relocated to Jandaq, where he lived until his death. Mirza Muhammad Baqir died on the night of 5 November 1901. He was initially buried in Jandaq, but his remains were later transferred to

, where he was reburied in the

Imam Reza Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth Twelve Imams, imam in Twelver Shi'ism, Twelver Shia Is ...

shrine complex.

References

{{Reflist, 4 Shia clerics from Isfahan Iranian Shia scholars of Islam 1823 births 1901 deaths Burials at Imam Reza Shrine